A 23-year-old paddleboarder was rescued on Saturday evening at Praia dos Coelhos in Setúbal, authorities announced on Sunday.
The National Maritime Authority (AMN) received an alert at 8:46 PM reporting that “a young man was in trouble in the water.”
Rescue crews from the Sesimbra Lifeboat Station were dispatched to the scene and found the paddleboarder physically well and without the need for medical assistance.
The individual was brought safely to shore.
Portugal is home to 27 lifeboat stations, a part of the Institute for Shipwreck Relief (ISN).
Rescue of Couple on Unsupervised Beach in Viana do Castelo
On the same day, Saturday, rescue teams from the Esposende Lifeboat Station assisted in rescuing a man and woman in distress in the water at Praia dos Moinhos, an unsupervised beach in Viana do Castelo.
The victims were helped onshore by the ‘Seawatch’ project team, along with lifeguards from the adjacent beach and lifeboat station crews. The man was unconscious but his condition was successfully reversed.
The National Maritime Authority reported that in 2024, the Maritime Service of ISN, operated through the lifeboat stations, recorded 634 rescue missions that resulted in 699 lives saved.
The AMN noted that last year, 19 lifeboat crew trainees were trained and integrated, and about 200 bar pilots and pilot boat crews received survival at sea training.
Trainings were also conducted in basic life support, oxygen therapy, and trauma for members of the Maritime Police, military personnel engaged in surveillance projects, and other entities requesting training in these areas, along with awareness programs on beaches supported by organizations like the Vodafone Foundation for the “Summer of Champions” project and the Portuguese Surf Schools Association for the ‘Surf & Rescue’ project.
What are the Authorities’ Recommendations?
The ISN advises beachgoers to follow several safety rules, including obeying flag signals and the lifeguard’s instructions, not hesitating to call for help if needed, supervising children, swimming parallel to the shore, and choosing supervised beaches.
They also advise against swimming during digestion and entering cold waters to avoid sudden thermal shocks. Beachgoers are urged to avoid peak sun hours.
In an emergency, contact a lifeguard or call 112.
